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The
St Paul’s Watch was a voluntary organisation first formed in
June 1915 to protect the Cathedral from bombing raids by
airships during the First World War. The Watch’s leader was
Surveyor to the Fabric Mervyn McCartney, who over the course
of the war supervised over 260 men. Their duties were to look
out for, and put out, any fires that may start as a result of
the bombs that were being dropped during the air raids,
keeping detailed logs of nightly activity. They received
training from the London Fire Brigade, and remained in close
contact with them, using telephones that had been installed
especially for that purpose. They also had to develop a good
understanding of the geography of the Cathedral, especially of
the staircases and passages on the upper levels of the
building. To assist with this, a complete set of plans of the
Cathedral, showing the location of every staircase, passageway
and water hydrant, was drawn up and bound into convenient
pocket-sized booklets.
The Watch disbanded at the end of the war but reformed again
in 1939 at the start of the Second World War, with their new
leader, Surveyor to the Fabric Godfrey Allen. Their duties
remained similar to those during the First World War, as they
continued keeping watch over the Cathedral, reporting to the
London Fire Brigade any instances of gunfire, incendiaries or
damage to the building. The Watch also received training on
dealing with fires, incendiaries and gas attacks, which was to
come in useful between autumn 1940 and spring 1941, the period
known as the Blitz. The Watch drew its members from various
professions, and included architects, academics, business men,
civil servants, and members of the clergy. As a result of this
talent and diversity the Watch was sometimes known as ‘best
club in London’.
The last meeting of the Watch was held on 8 May 1945, and
after the war it was suggested that the volunteers of the
Watch should regroup to be form a new body, to continue their
friendship and love for the Cathedral, and to use their
talents and enthusiasm for peacetime rather than wartime
efforts. This body would become known as the Friends of St
Paul’s Cathedral, and it was officially formed in 1952. Their
aims were to help foster interest in the Cathedral’s history
and architecture, as well as aid improvements in the Cathedral
with financial support, and they still continue their good
work to this day.
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